External storage apparatus and control apparatus thereof, and data transmission/reception apparatus

ABSTRACT

The object of the present invention is to enable to prevent an erroneous erase of a data stored or writing another data on the data as well as to enable to easily switch an erroneous erase prevention switch. 
     A command generator  35 , upon reception of a register instruction for checking a state of a memory card  2  received via an S/P &amp; P/S sequencer, sets a state of an erroneous erase prevention switch  23  in a register and transmits this register content via the S/P &amp; P/S sequnecer  31  to a host computer. According to the register content from the memory card, the host computer decides whether a write protect is ON and executes a write inhibit processing when the write protect is ON.

This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10/966,626, filed Oct. 15, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,118,044, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10/107,908, filed Mar. 27, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,805,297, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/467,221 filed Dec. 20, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,802,453, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/086,788, filed May 28, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,170,743, issued Jan. 9, 2001, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a memory card having an erroneous erase preventing function and its control apparatus, and a data transmission/reception apparatus.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Conventionally, an external storage apparatus such as a magnetic tape, magnetic disc, optical disc, memory card and the like is used for storing a data from an electronic apparatus such as computer, digital still camera and the like. Especially, the memory card is widely used for its convenience for carrying and high transfer rate.

Similarly as a flexible disc, a memory card as an erroneous erase prevention switch for preventing an erroneous erase of a data stored. However, a conventional erroneous erase prevention switch is provided on a main plane of the card memory body and a user cannot operate the switch when the memory card is mounted on an electronic apparatus.

In this case, if the memory card is inserted into an electronic apparatus and the user find that the memory card is disabled for writing, the user cannot write a new data on a data already stored. The user should pull out the memory card from the electronic apparatus, set the erroneous erase prevention switch to a writable mode, and again mount the memory card into the electronic apparatus. It has been desired to improve the switching operationability of the erroneous erase prevention switch.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a memory card capable of preventing an erroneous erase of a data stored or another data writing on the data stored, while enabling to freely set the erroneous erase prevention switch to a desired mode, and its control apparatus, and its data transmission apparatus.

In order to achieve the aforementioned object, the memory card according to the present invention is a memory card for storing a data transmitted from a control apparatus, the memory card including: storage means for storing a data from the control apparatus: a switch for setting whether to inhibit writing of a data in the storage means; and control means for controlling writing of the data transmitted from the control apparatus, on the storage means.

In the memory card, the switch can be switched even when the memory card is mounted on the control apparatus; and the control means decides a setting content of the switch when writing a data transmitted from the control apparatus and transmits a write enabled signal to the control apparatus unless the switch is set to a write disabled mode, and transmits a write disabled signal to the control apparatus if the switch is set to a write disabled mode.

The memory card control apparatus according to the present invention is a memory card control apparatus for controlling write and read of a data into/from a memory card, including: storage means for storing a data to be transmitted to the memory card; and control means for controlling write-in and read-out of a data into/from the storage means.

The control means functions in such a manner for each data write it is decided whether the memory card is set to a data write disabled mode; when a write enabled signal is received from the memory card, a data stored in the storage means is read out and written on the memory card; and when a write disabled signal is received from the memory card, read out of the data from the storage means is interrupted.

The data transmission and reception apparatus according to the present invention is for carrying out a data transmission and reception between a control block and a memory card, wherein the memory card includes: first storage means for storing a data from the control block; a switch for setting to inhibit writing of a data to the first storage means; and first control means for controlling write-in and read-out of a data into/from the first storage means, whereas the control block includes second storage means for storing a data to be transmitted to the memory card and second control means for controlling a data write-in and read-out into/from the second storage means.

In the data transmission and reception apparatus, the memory card, when writing a data transmitted from the control block, decides the setting content of the switch. Unless the switch is set to a write disabled mode, a write enabled signal is transmitted to the control block, and if the switch is set to a write disabled mode, a write inhibit signal is transmitted to the control block, thus controlling writing of a data transmitted from the control block, in the first storage means. Moreover, the first control means, for each data, decides whether the memory card is set to the data write inhibit mode. When the control block receives a write enabled signal from the memory card, the data stored in the second storage means is read out and is written in the first storage means. When a write inhibit signal is received from the memory card, read out of the data from the second storage means is interrupted.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a host computer according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a memory card according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of the aforementioned memory card.

FIG. 4 is an external perspective view of the aforementioned memory card.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart which explains an operation procedure of the host computer and the memory card.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart which explains an operation procedure of the host computer and the memory card.

FIG. 7 is another external perspective view of the aforementioned memory card.

FIG. 8 is another external perspective view of the aforementioned memory card.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, description will be directed to embodiments of the present invention with reference to the attached drawings.

The present invention can be applied to a host computer shown in FIG. 1 and a memory card for storing a data from this host computer. It should be noted that an embodiment will be explained for a case of writing a video data transmitted from the host computer, on a memory card, but the present invention can also be applied to a data other than a video data such as an audio data.

As shown in FIG. 1, the aforementioned host computer 1 includes: a hard disc 11 for storing various data such as a video data of a still image data and an audio data, a RAM (random access memory) 12 for temporarily storing and reading out the video data and other data from the hard disc 11; a display interface (hereinafter referred to as a display I/F) 13; a display 14 for display an image according to the video data supplied via the display interface 13; a serial interface (hereinafter, referred to as a serial I/F) 15 for transmitting and receiving a data to/from a memory card 2 via three data lines; a bus 16; and a CPU (central processing unit) for the entire control.

The RAM 12, for example, temporarily stores a video data stored in the hard disc 11 via the bus 16 and, when necessary, supplies the video data via the bus 16 to the serial I/F 15.

The display 14 is supplied via the bus 16 and the display I/F 13 with the video data which has been read out from the hard disc 11 or a video data from the memory card 2, so that a still image or a moving picture is displayed according to these video data.

The serial I/F transmits a video data to the memory card 2 or receives a video data stored in the memory card 2 via the three data lines. More specifically, via a first data line, the serial I/F 15 transmits a video data and a control data for writing into the memory card 2 and receives a video data read out from the memory card 2. Via a second data line, the serial I/F 15 outputs a state signal indicating a state switched according to the image data or control data supplied via the first data line. Furthermore, via a third data line, the serial I/F 15 transmits a serial clock SCLK for transmission of the aforementioned control data and video data.

The CPU 17 controls reading out of a video data from the RAM 12 and the hard disc 11 and writing of a video data into the RAM 12 as well as controls transmission and reception of a video data to/from the memory card 2. For example, the CPU 17 issues a register instruction to decide whether a write protect of an erroneous erase prevention switch which will be detailed later is in ON state, and issues to the memory card 2 a write instruction for writing a predetermined video data with specification of an address.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, the memory card 2 includes: a control IC 21 for receiving a video data and a control data from the aforementioned host computer 1; a flash memory for storing the video data; and an erroneous erase prevention switch 23 for preventing an erroneous erase of the video data stored in the flash memory 22.

As shown in FIG. 3, the control IC 21, the flash memory 22, and the erroneous erase prevention switch 23 are provided in a plate-shaped member 24 formed almost in a plate shape. The erroneous erase prevention switch 23 is provided at one end of the longitudinal direction of the plate-shaped member 24, which end is opposite of the mounting direction. The erroneous erase prevention switch 23 is slidable in a direction intersecting at a right angle with the longitudinal direction of the plate-shaped member 24. When the erroneous erase prevention switch 23 is set at a left position viewed toward the mounting direction as shown in FIG., 3, it is possible to record a video data, i.e., the write protect is in OFF state.

Moreover, as shown in FIG. 4, when the erroneous erase prevention switch 23 is at a right position viewed toward to mounting direction, a cut-off portion 25 can be seen. In this state, the memory card 2 is disabled for recording a video data. That is, the write protect is in ON state. Consequently, a user can know the state of the memory card 2 by touching it with a finger, i.e., whether the write protect is ON or OFF through presence or absence of the aforementioned cut-off portion 25 even when the memory card 2 is placed in pocket of a jacket.

The control IC 21, prior to writing a video data from the host computer 1 into the flash memory 22, decides whether the erroneous erase prevention switch 23 is set to write protect ON or OFF state, so that the video data is written in the flash memory 22 only when the write protect is OFF.

Here, more specifically, the control IC 21 includes: a serial/parallel-parallel/serial interface sequencer (hereinafter, referred to as an S/P & P/S sequencer) 31; a page buffer 32 for temporarily storing a video data from the S/P & P/S sequencer; a flash interface sequencer (hereinafter, referred to as a flash I/F sequencer) 33 for supplying the video data from the page buffer 32, to the flash memory 22; an ECC encoder/decoder 34 for carrying out an error correction processing; a command generator 35 for generating a predetermined control command; a configuration ROM (read only memory) 36 containing a version information and others; and an oscillator 37 of supplying a clock to respective circuits.

the S/P & P/S sequencer 31 is connected via the aforementioned first to third data lines to the serial I/F 15 of the host computer 1. Thus, the S/P & P/S sequencer 31 is supplied from the host computer 1 with a status signal and a serial clock SCLK as well as a serial data DIO consisting of a video data and a control data.

The S/P & P/S sequencer 31 converts the serial data DIO supplied from the host computer 1, into a parallel data in synchronization with the aforementioned serial clock SCLK. Among the parallel data, for example, the S/P & P/S sequencer 31 supplies a control data to the command generator 35 and a video data to the page buffer 32.

The page buffer is a buffer memory for storing the video data supplied from the S/P & P/S sequencer 31 on page (=512 bytes) basis. The video data stored in the page buffer 32 is added with an error correction code by the ECC encoder/decoder 34. The page buffer 32 supplied one page of video data added with the error correction code, via the flash I/F sequencer 33 to the flash memories 33 a to 22 d. Thus, the video data from the host computer 1 is written in the flash memories 22 a to 22 d.

Moreover, the image data read out from the flash memories 22 a to 22 d is supplied via the flash I/F sequencer 33 to the page buffer 32.

The page buffer 32 stores the video data from the flash I/F sequencer 33. Here, the ECC encoder/decoder 34 carries out an error correction processing according to the error correction code added to the data stored in the page buffer 32. The page buffer 32 reads out the data which has been subjected to the error correction processing page after another and supplies the data to the S/P & P/S sequencer 31. The S/P & P/S sequencer 31 converts the parallel video data supplied from the page buffer 32, into a serial data DIO, and transmits it to the aforementioned host computer 1.

The command generator 35 generates a control command according to a control data from the S/P & P/S sequencer 31. For example, when the command generator 35 receives a read status register instruction for checking the operation state of the memory card 2, the setting mode of the erroneous erase prevention switch 23 is determined and according to this setting mode, it is determined whether to carry out writing of a video data.

Moreover, the command generator 35 generates a busy command (hereinafter, referred to as a busy signal) indicating that a video data is being written into the flash memory 22 or a video data is being read out from the flash memory 22, and transmits the busy command via the S/P & P/S sequencer 31 to the host computer 1. When the writing or reading of a video data is complete, the command generator 35 generates a ready command (hereinafter, referred to as a ready signal) indicating the writing or reading end, and transmits the ready command via the S/P & P/S sequencer 31 to the host computer 1. The host computer 1 recognizes the operation state of the memory card 2 by receiving these busy signal and ready signal.

The configuration ROM 36 contains a version information and an information of an initial value of the memory card 2. Consequently, when a connection is made between the host computer 1 and the memory card 2, the command generator 35 firstly reads out the aforementioned version information or the like from the configuration ROM 36 via the S/P & P/S sequencer and generates a predetermined command according to the information, thus executing a predetermined initialization of the memory card 2.

In the host computer 1 and the memory card 2 having the aforementioned configuration, when a video data of the host computer 1 is written into the memory card 2, as shown in FIG. 5, the host computer execute a processing of steps S1 to S8 while the memory card 2 executes the processing of steps S11 to S14.

In the host computer 1, when a video data writing to the memory card 2 is specified, the CPU 17 issues a read status register instruction to check the state of the memory card 2 (step S1) and transmits this register instruction via the serial I/F 15 to the memory card 2. This read status register instruction is issued for each of the files to be transmitted.

In the memory card 2, when the command generator 35 receives the aforementioned register instruction via the S/P & P/S sequencer 31, the state of the erroneous erase prevention switch 23 is set to a register mode, and the contents of this register is transmitted via the S/P & P/S sequencer 31 to the host computer 1 (step S11). In other words, the command generator 35 decides whether the erroneous erase prevention switch is ON, i.e., whether the write protect of the memory card 2 is ON, sets the state in the register and transmits this register content to the host computer 1.

In the host computer 1, the CPU 17, according to the register content from the memory card 2, decides whether the write protect is ON (step S2) and if the write protect is ON, carries out a write inhibit processing (step S3).

When the CPU 17 decides that the write protect is not ON, the CPU 17 issues a write page buffer instruction and reads out a video data of 512 bytes from the hard disc 11, for example, and transmits the write page buffer instruction and the video data via the serial I/F 15 to the memory card 2 (step S4).

Furthermore, the CPU 17 issues a set command instruction and issues a write instruction with specification of a write address of the aforementioned data on the memory card 2 (step S5). The CPU 17 transmits these command instructions via the serial I/F 15 to the memory card 2.

In the memory card 2, when the command generator 35 receives the set command instruction from the host computer 1 via the S/P & P/S sequencer 31, the command generator sets a busy state in the register and transmits a busy signal indicating this register content, via the S/P & P/S sequencer 31 to the host computer 1 (step S12). It should be noted that his busy signal is repeatedly transmitted to the host computer 1 until the ready state is set in the register.

Moreover, the command generator 35 issues a command for executing writing so as write one page of the video data in the aforementioned specified address of the flash memory 22 (step S13). When the writing of the one page of video data is complete, the command generator 35 sets a ready state in the register and transmits a ready signal indicating this register content, via the S/P & P/S sequencer 31 to the host computer 1 (step S14).

On the other hand, in the host computer 1, the CPU 17 issues the set command instruction in the aforementioned step S5 and after this, issues a read status register instruction to check the state of the memory card 2 (step S6). The CPU 17 decides whether the signal transmitted from the memory card 2 via the serial I/F 5 is a busy signal. If the signal is found to be a busy signal, the CPU 17 again issues the read status register instruction (step S6). That is, while the busy signal is transmitted from the memory card 2, the processing of steps S6 and S7 is repeatedly executed.

When the CPU 17 decides that the signal transmitted from the memory card 2 is not a busy signal, i.e., that the signal transmitted is a ready signal, the CPU 17 decides whether a subsequent video data to be transmitted to the memory card 2 is present. If a subsequent video data is present, control is passed to step S4, and if no subsequent video data is present, the transmission of video data is terminated (step S8). That is, a file of video data to be recorded is written on page basis into the memory card 2 by repeating the processing of steps S4 to S8 and the processing of steps S12 to S14.

As has been described above, according to the present invention, the ON/OFF state of the write protect of the memory card 2 is decided for each file recording. Consequently, if the write protect setting is changed by the erroneous erase prevention switch 23 while the memory card 2 is mounted on the host computer 1, it is possible to carry out a processing to inhibit the video data writing or record the video data according to the set content.

Moreover, the erroneous erase prevention switch 23 can be changed in the write protect setting while the memory card is mounted on the host computer 1, and accordingly there is no need of removal of the memory card 2 from the host computer 1 for switching the erroneous erase prevention switch 23, thus improving the operationability for the user.

Next, description will directed to the operation when erasing a video data stored in the memory card 2. When erasing a video data stored in the memory card 2, as shown in FIG. 6, the host computer 1 carries out a processing of steps S21 to S27 while the memory card 2 carries out a processing of steps S31 to S34.

In the host computer 1, when an erase is set for a video data stored in the memory card 2, the CPU 17 issues a read status register instruction (step S21) so as to check the state oft he memory card 2, and transmits this register instruction via the serial I/F 15 to the memory card 2. It should be noted that this read status register instruction is issued for each of the files to be transmitted.

In the memory card 2, when the command generator 35 receives the aforementioned register instruction, the command generator 35 sets the state of the erroneous erase prevention switch 23 in a register, and transmits this register content via the S/P & P/S sequencer 31 to the host computer 1 (step S31). In other words, the command generator 35 set in register the ON or OFF state of the write protect of the memory card and transmits this register content to the host computer 1.

In the host computer 1, the CPU 17 decides whether the write protect is ON according to the register content from the memory card 2 (step S22) and if the write protect is ON, a processing to inhibit erase is carried out (step S23).

Moreover, the CPU 17 issues a set command instruction, and with specification of an address of the video data to be erased, issues an erase instruction (step S24). The CPU 17 transmits these command instructions via the serial I/F 15 to the memory card 2.

On the other hand, in the memory card 2, the command generator 35, upon reception of the aforementioned set command instruction from the host computer 1, transmits a busy signal via the S/P & P/S sequencer 31 to the host computer 1 (step S32).

Moreover, the command generator 35 issues a command to erase the video data of the specified address, so as to erase the specified video data stored in the flash memory 22 (step S33). It should be noted that in the flash memory 22, the video data is erased for each block consisting of a predetermined number of sets of one-page (512 bytes) video data and 18-byte of management information.

When the aforementioned erase of the video data is complete, the command generator 35 sets a ready state in the register and transmits a ready signal indicating the register content, via the S/P & and P/S sequencer 31 to the host computer 1 (step s34).

On the other hand, in the host computer 1, the CPU 17 issues the set command instruction in the aforementioned step S24 and after this, issues a read status register instruction to check the state of the memory card 2 (step S25). The CPU 17 decides whether a signal transmitted from the memory card 2 via the serial I/F 15 is a busy signal. If the signal is a busy signal, the read status register instruction is again issued (step S26). Consequently, while the busy signal is transmitted from the memory card 2, the processing of steps S25 and S26 is repeatedly carried out.

When the CPU 17 decides that the signal transmitted from the memory card 2 is not a busy signal, i.e., the signal transmitted is a ready signal, the CPU 17 decides whether any video data to be erased is present in the memory card 2. If any subsequent data to be erased is present, control is passed to step S24, and if no video data to be erased is present, the video data erase is terminated (step S27). That is, the file of video data to be erased is erased on block basis by repeatedly carrying out the aforementioned procedure of steps S24 to S27 and steps S32 to S34.

As has thus far been described, according to the present invention, the ON/OFF state of the write protect of the memory card 2 is checked for each file erase and if the write protect setting is changed by the erroneous erase prevention switch 23 while the memory card 2 is mounted on the host computer 1, it is possible to carry out a processing to inhibit erase of the video data according to the set content.

It should be noted that the present invention is not to be limited to the aforementioned embodiment but can be modified in various designs within the scope of the present invention.

For example, the erroneous erase prevention switch 23 can be modified in any ways if it is provided at one end of the longitudinal direction of the plate-shaped member 24 and is slidable on the direction intersecting the aforementioned longitudinal direction at a right angle. Consequently, as shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, it is possible to provide the erroneous erase prevention switch 23 on the main plane of the plate-shaped member 24. In this case, as shown in FIG. 7, when the erroneous erase prevention switch 23 is placed at the left side viewed toward the mounting direction, the write protect is set to OFF. Moreover, as show in FIG. 8, when the erroneous erase prevention switch 23 is positioned at the right side viewed toward the mounting direction, a vacancy 26 can be seen. In this state, it is possible to turn the write protect ON. Consequently, the user can know whether the vacancy 26 is present, i.e., whether the write protect is ON or OFF by touching the erroneous erase prevention switch 23 with a finger even if the memory card 2 is placed in a pocket of his/her jacket. 

1. A memory card which is connectable to external apparatus, comprising: a card body having an upper surface, a lower surface and a plurality of sides; a cut located in one of said sides and extending from said upper surface to said lower surface; electronic circuitry disposed in said card body, said electronic circuitry including a memory chip; a slidable switch located in said cut, said switch having exposed upper and lower surfaces and an exposed side; and said electronic circuitry further including a serial interface.
 2. The memory card of claim 1, wherein said cut is located at a trailing end of said card body, relative to the direction in which said memory card is inserted into said external apparatus.
 3. Apparatus for writing data to a memory card, said memory card comprising: a card body having an upper surface, a lower surface and a plurality of sides; a cut located in one of said sides and extending from said upper surface to said lower surface; electronic circuitry disposed in said card body, said electronic circuitry including a memory chip; a slidable switch located in said cut, said switch having exposed upper and lower surfaces and an exposed side; and said electronic circuitry further including a serial interface, whereby said apparatus is enabled to write data to said memory chip of the memory card via said serial interface when the switch is set at a first position and said apparatus is prevented from writing data to said memory chip when the switch is set at a second position.
 4. A system comprising an external device and a memory card, wherein data is communicated between said external device and said memory card, said memory card comprising: a card body having an upper surface, a lower surface and a plurality of sides; a cut located in one of said sides and extending from said upper surface to said lower surface; electronic circuitry disposed in said card body, said electronic circuitry including a memory chip; a slidable switch located in said cut and having exposed upper and lower surfaces and an exposed side; and said electronic circuitry further including a serial interface, whereby said external device is enabled to write data to said memory chip of the memory card via said serial interface when the switch is set at a first position and said external device is prevented from writing data to said memory chip when the switch is set at a second position.
 5. The system of claim 4, wherein said card body is insertable in a longitudinal direction into said external device, and said cut is located at an end of said card body opposite a leading end of said card body. 